Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has led an unabashed rogue’s life, letting no woman near his heart. Inexplicably abandoned as a child to be raised by distant relatives, he never forgave his parents, refusing to read any of his mother’s letters after his father’s death. Then came a letter that shook his resolve. A Christmas visit to Montcliff might prove his last chance to discover the truth of his past, and come to terms with the stranger he calls "Mother". But two surprises await him at Montcliff....

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie

When Madeline Prescott took a teaching position at Mrs. Harris’s School for Young Ladies, it was to help restore her father’s reputation. Instead, she’s in danger of ruining her own. The devilishly handsome Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, has agreed to provide “rake lessons” to Mrs. Harris’s pupils so they can learn how to avoid unscrupulous gentlemen, and Madeline is to oversee his classes.

Wed Him Before You Bed Him: School for Heiresses, Book 6

At 18, Charlotte Page made a life-altering mistake. She wronged a man in an impulsive act that she came to deeply regret, though it led her to her present life as Mrs. Charlotte Harris, owner of Mrs. Harris’s School for Young Ladies. Unbeknownst to her, that man is now her anonymous benefactor, the mysterious “Cousin Michael.” His masquerade began as preparation for a devastating revenge, but became a labor of love. Now Charlotte desperately needs his help....

Don't Bargain with the Devil: School for Heiresses, Book 5

The future of Charlotte Harris’s finishing school is in jeopardy when a charming Spaniard – world-famous magician Diego Montalvo – arrives to turn the bordering estate into a scandalous pleasure garden. Valiantly ignoring his wicked flirtations, outspoken Lucinda Seton vows to derail his plans and save the school, unaware that Diego’s true mission is to spirit the long-lost heiress away to Spain for a handsome reward!

Only a Duke Will Do

Louisa North likes her independence very much, despite her royal father’s protests. So when Simon Tremaine, the dashing Duke of Foxwood, whom she once loved – and had exiled from England – returns bent on marrying her, she’s skeptical. The fire between them burns as hot as ever, but when Simon’s ulterior motive for marriage is exposed, along with the deeply buried secrets of his past, Louisa vows to make him pay…and the price will be his heart.

A Lady Never Surrenders: Hellions of Halstead Hall, Book 5

With two months left to find a husband and fulfill her grandmother’s ultimatum, Celia sets her sights on three eligible bachelors. Becoming betrothed to one of these wealthy, high-ranking men will surely prove her capable of getting married, so hopefully the wedding itself won’t be necessary for Celia to receive her inheritance. Step Two of her audacious plan is hiring the dark and dangerously compelling Bow Street runner Jackson Pinter to investigate the three men she’s chosen. With Lady Celia bedeviling Jackson’s days and nights, the last thing he wants is to help her find a husband.

Beware a Scot's Revenge: School for Heiresses, Book 3

When Lady Venetia Campbell is kidnapped at pistol point by her father’s sworn enemy, Sir Lachlan Ross, she discovers the wickedly sexy Scot is even more intoxicating than she remembers... and much more dangerous. Lachlan plans to use her as a weapon against her father, but Venetia is determined that his lust for revenge will be trumped by an even more powerful desire....

If the Viscount Falls: Duke's Men, Book 4

The heir presumptive to the Viscount Rathmoor, Dominick Manton once had his heart's desire within reach - a bright future as a barrister and engagement to Jane Vernon. Then a shattering betrayal by his vindictive brother George snatched away Dom's inheritance and his hopes of offering Jane a secure future. Now George is gone, and the viscountcy has been restored to Dom, since his brother's widow Nancy never bore an heir.

When the Rogue Returns: The Duke's Men, Book 2

It had been a decade since Victor Cale, first cousin to the Duke of Lyons, had seen his wife. After some royal jewelry went missing from the jeweler's shop where they worked, Isabel Mertens disappeared. When Victor gets word of a woman who fits his wife's description, he sets out to confront her. But he discovers that nothing is as it seems-and revenge is never as sweet as true love.

What the Duke Desires: The Duke's Men, Book 1

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister.

Never Seduce a Scoundrel

Lady Amelia Plume has many admirers – it’s too bad they’re all fortune hunters and fops who can’t provide the exotic adventures she seeks. But the ballrooms of Mayfair have become much more appealing since the arrival of Major Lucas Winter, an American with a dark past and a dangerous air. Lucas is brash, arrogant – and scandalously tempting. Every thrilling kiss sparks hotter desire, yet Amelia suspects Lucas has a hidden motive in wooing her. And she intends to discover it, by any means necessary.

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady

Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother’s demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva’s would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva’s imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him.

Heartless

Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved - and the succession.

To Wed a Wild Lord: Hellions of Halstead Hall, Book 4

Like everything daredevil Gabe Sharpe does, wooing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother, Roger, died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion called the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal! Gabe knows Virginia is in dire financial straits — so why not marry her and solve both of their problems?

How the Scoundrel Seduces: Duke's Men, Book 3

Investigator Tristan Bonnaud has one aim in life - to make sure that his half-brother George can't ever ruin his life again. So when the pesky Lady Zoe Keane, the daughter of the Earl of Olivier, shows up demanding that the Duke's Men find a mysterious gypsy woman, he seizes the opportunity to also hunt for a gypsy friend who knows secrets about George. Tristan doesn't expect to uncover Lady Zoe's family secrets, as well...or end up falling for the woman who will risk all to discover the truth.

A Hellion in Her Bed: Hellions of Halstead Hall, Book 2

Mired in scandal after his parents’ mysterious deaths, notorious gambler Lord Jarret Sharpe agrees to tamely run the family brewery for a year if his Machiavellian grandmother rescinds her ultimatum that he marry. But the gambler in him can’t resist when beguiling Annabel Lake proposes a wager. If she wins their card game, he must help save her family’s foundering brewery. But if he wins, she must spend a night in his bed. The outcome sets off a chain of events that threatens to destroy all his plans....

The Truth about Lord Stoneville

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has been London's most notorious rake for years. Fed up with his behavior, his grandmother threatens to disinherit him if he doesn't tame his wild ways and wed within the year. Outraged, Oliver decides to hire a woman from a brothel to pose as his fiancée to prove that he can't be forced into marriage.

By Love Unveiled

Miss Marianne Winchilsea is running for her life from those whom she believes have attempted to kill the king. Forced to disguise herself, she trusts no one - especially not Garett Lockwood, the Earl of Falkham, who usurped her family home and who seems to be her most dangerous enemy. And what Garett sees behind her masquerade is a beautiful half gypsy enrobed in mystery, deception, and burning secrets. A woman he should avoid at all costs. In a world where treachery and betrayal reign, a sweet seduction rules their hearts.

Once a Wallflower, at Last His Love: Scandalous Seasons, Book 6

Responsible, practical Miss Hermione Rogers, has been crafting stories as the notorious Mr. Michael Michaelmas and selling them for a meager wage to support her siblings. The only real way to ensure her family's ruinous debts are paid, however, is to marry. Tall, thin, and plain, she has no expectation of success. In London for her first Season she seizes the chance to write the tale of a brooding duke. In her research, she finds Sebastian Fitzhugh, the Fifth Duke of Mallen.

Lord Perfect: Carsington Family Series

Tall, dark, and handsome Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne is the perfect aristocrat. As the heir to the Earl of Hargate, he is renowned for his perfect manners, perfect breeding, and perfect wardrobe. Unlike his scandalous brothers, Benedict is in no danger of ending up in the scandal sheets - until he meets her. Bathsheba Wingate, is a member of the DeLucey family - the rotten side - notorious for being cheats, frauds, and swindlers.

Only a Promise

Ralph Stockwood prides himself on being a leader, but when he convinced his friends to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, he never envisioned being the sole survivor. Racked with guilt over their deaths, Ralph must move on...and find a wife so as to secure an heir to his family's title and fortune.

The Duke's Holiday: The Regency Romp Trilogy, Book 1

The cold, precise Duke of Montford demands things his way: neatly ordered, in place, and adhering closely to the rules. So he is furious when he learns that the tenant of his ducal estate has been dead for a year, and a stranger has been running the Honeywell business - which, by contract, is now Montford's. When he arrives in Yorkshire to investigate, he discovers that the estate is being run by an unruly, tomboyish woman - and a bluestocking at that!

A Kiss for Midwinter

Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can't forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation. Even though the worst of her indiscretion was kept secret, one other person knows the truth of those dark days: the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham. She wants nothing to do with him... or the butterflies that take flight in her stomach every time he looks her way. Jonas Grantham has a secret, too: He's been in love with Lydia for more than a year.

Pleasure for Pleasure: Essex Sisters, Book 4

Fueled by the knowledge that notoriety is better than failure, witty, unconventional Josie does what no proper young lady should - she challenges fate. She discards her corset and flirts outrageously. She attends the horse races and allows an arrogant rakehell to whisk her behind the stables for a surreptitious kiss . . . and is caught!

What Happens at Christmas

Camille, Lady Lydingham, knows precisely what she wants for Christmas - an official engagement to a handsome, dashing prince. Her very proper suitor expects a proper English family and the perfect Dickensian Christmas, which leaves the lovely widow with a slight problem. The last thing Camille wants is for the prince to meet her unconventional relatives. But with the aid of a troupe of actors, Camille intends to pull off a Christmas deception of massive proportions. At least until Grayson Elliot shows up....

Publisher's Summary

Dear Sir,... I feel I should inform you that your mother is very ill. If you wish to see her before it is too late, you should come at once. Sincerely, Mrs. Camilla Stuart

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has led an unabashed rogue’s life, letting no woman near his heart. Inexplicably abandoned as a child to be raised by distant relatives, he never forgave his parents, refusing to read any of his mother’s letters after his father’s death. Then came a letter that shook his resolve. A Christmas visit to Montcliff might prove his last chance to discover the truth of his past, and come to terms with the stranger he calls "Mother".

But two surprises await him at Montcliff. His mother is perfectly healthy, nowhere near a deathbed, as her meddling lady’s companion led him to believe. The second is Camilla Stuart herself, a lively vicar’s widow, too bright and beautiful not to arouse the scoundrel in Pierce. Though she alone is reason enough to prolong his stay, he is soon faced with other tantalizing riddles: What secrets lie in his mother’s past to explain his childhood abandonment? Why is the captivating Mrs. Stuart so determined to mend the breach between mother and son? Meanwhile, Camilla herself is caught up in love’s complications since the arrival of the irresistible earl.

As his bold flirtation and suggestive whispers draw her dangerously close, can anything protect her vulnerable heart? If they are destined to share real happiness, there must be honesty between them - yet telling him the truth about her own life may shatter that chance. None of them can predict the startling revelations to come. Or the secrets, both heartening and shocking, divulged between a mother and son, and between two lovers haunted by their respective pasts, that will make Christmas night at Montcliff one to remember - and the glorious night after, one to treasure for a lifetime.

Sabrina's books are always fun and enjoyable but I had a hard time enjoying this one because the narrator chose to use a voice for the hero that made him sound about 90 years old. He sounded like Shriveled Old Scrooge instead of Sexy Young Hot Guy! I suppose this sounds picky but to me, the narrator makes or breaks the book. A good narrator can make a so-so book a keeper I want to listen to again. A bad narrator makes it difficult to get through even a terrific book. So I'm afraid I can't recommend this book to you for that reason. Unless you find Scrooge sexy.......

Since I did read the other reviews about the narrator, I only have myself to blame. But I like this author so wanted to hear it. The only voice that was really bad was the lead male, but since that is a prominent character, it really affected my enjoyment of the book. The narrator made Pierce sound like a villain in a bad radio show. I have rarely heard such a poor voice in any audible book. He did a good job with most of the others, including the females. I did like this story, but I know I'll never listen to it again, and will avoid any others narrated by this reader. Still like this author though. The story is a good one.

You don't have to be a fan of Christmas - but a romance set around Christmas time well that's just gives you that ahhhh feeling.

Loved all the characters - especially misunderstood bad boy Pierce who is a tormented neglected little boy in a man's body and it's up to Camilla to thaw his heart with a little bit of help from her 6 year old son. It was both sad, funny, romantic, touching and tells of forgiveness and through that act Pierce gets all he wishes for.

Terrible harsh voiced narrator which almost made Pierce unlikeable but try to stick with it despite him - listen to a sample first to hear him to decide for yourself.

Worth a credit? For all us historical romance lovers it's a Yes and if you're a S.J. fan then you know it's got to be a Yes.

Would you consider the audio edition of 'Twas the Night After Christmas to be better than the print version?

I never read the print version

Who was your favorite character and why?

Camilla

Which character – as performed by Michael Page – was your favorite?

Camilla

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

H-m-mmm...hard to say, but I'd have something to be similar to the Hellions series...too bad Hellion in Her Bed is already taken! :)

Any additional comments?

Many folks didn't care for the narrator, but I considered him to be like the main male character in Jane Eyre - he'd had family difficulties as a child and some childhood problems are difficult to overcome. And I liked the tie to the Hellions series - I re-visited How to Wed a Wild Lord. Pierce's role is consistent.

I am a Sabrina Jeffries fan and have read a lot of her books. But this one is just annoying. The Hero is so annoying with his mommy issues and why the heck is he ALWAYS in a really bad mood? Get over it!

The narrator did a better job on the woman's voice than he did with the hero's voice. He made the hero sound mean old and crotchety.. ugh.

I didn't care for this book very much at all. Amazon has this book listed as book 6 in the Hellions of Halstead series. I am so glad it really isn't part of that series as that series was fantastic. I only read that series though I did not listen to it.

Setting: 1826, England Genre: RomanceNarration: You know how, with some books, the narrator helps draw you in? You don't really notice the narration because it's so good? Yeah, well that isn't the case here. I kept getting pulled out of the story by the narrator's voice.While this book has Christmas in the title, it isn't necessary for it to be in that season to enjoy it. It was good anyway. Camilla Stuart is the 28 year old widowed companion to Lady Devonmont, who is estranged from her son, Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont. Because he never writes, never visits, the Lady is quite distressed. So Camilla sends him a message telling him that his mother is ill and he should come. When he gets there, he finds his mother in good health. Except for a short interview with his parents when he was 21, then at his father's funeral, Pierce has not been home for 23 years. He was sent off to school when he was 8 and his parents never wrote or visited. He spent all his holidays with his father's cousin, where he was welcomed into the household. Needless to say, he is quite embittered at his mother for being sent away without communication or explanation, so he has ignored every letter she has written since his father's death, throwing them into a box, unread.When Pierce meets Camilla, he his fascinated. While she is not his usual type, she is forthright, and she sees beneath his rogue's mask. He said he would stay only the first night, but he ends up staying and blackmailing Camilla into entertaining him every night in his bedroom. She reads to him, plays cards, or just talks with him. They do not hop into bed first thing, though he does flirt outrageously.Character and plot development are good. I laughed at some of the dialog, and I shed a few tears as well. It's sweet.This is a credit-worthy listen. I think it is an offshoot of another book, but it's a good stand-alone.

For those who enjoy Regency fiction, this is very well read by Michael Page. The story isn't particularly original but that's not usually what we want in a romance. Light entertainment, and like many of its type, characters have a modern sense of justice and tolerance that probably didn't exist. But sometimes we just want to know there will be a happy ending!

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